Unipd among the winners of the ERC Proof of Concept 2025
03.02.2026
Giulia Pasqual, from the Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences at the University of Padua, has been awarded for her innovative technology on the immune system. Her research, which systematically associates T-cell receptors with their targets, has potential applications in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.
The Executive Agency of the European Research Council (ERCEA) has announced the 136 Principal Investigators (PIs) selected in the latest ERC Proof of Concept 2025 call. This program supports excellent PIs who have already received an ERC grant, providing them with €150,000 to explore the commercial and social potential of their scientific ideas.
Giulia Pasqual won with her project CLIN-TCR, one of the 24 Italian projects selected. Her work aims to demonstrate the clinical value of the technology by applying it to cancer and autoimmune diseases, identifying specific T-cell receptors that recognize tumor antigens and components of the body in autoimmune diseases. "Understanding which receptors recognize which targets is crucial for developing more accurate diagnostic tools, personalized therapies, and new vaccines," stated Giulia Pasqual. Her innovative technology, already validated on a small scale, is protected by a patent application.
By generating and validating large sets of clinically relevant data, the project could provide new biomarkers and new opportunities for the development of immune-based therapies. In parallel, intellectual property protection will be strengthened, and a strategy for future commercial exploitation will be defined. Overall, the project can open new perspectives for precision medicine and accelerate the development of next-generation immunotherapies and therapeutic vaccines.
In 2025, 879 projects were submitted to the Commission, of which 300 were funded. Italy ranked third in terms of the number of grants obtained, with 31 grants.
"The discoveries funded by the ERC are more than just academic advancements," commented Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation. "They lay the foundations for future innovation ecosystems across Europe."
